Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is an exciting holiday for children adults alike to trick-or-treat and attend parties, haunted houses or other types of get-togethers. Make sure this Halloween is a safe one for you and your family. Talk to your children before they leave to go out for the evening and keep everyone safer by following the tips below.

Children should always be accompanied by a trusted adult, and no one should trick-or-treat alone. Trick-or-treaters should do a head-count for their group after leaving each house.

When choosing a neighborhood in which to trick-or-treat, consider one that is well lit and popular among other trick-or-treaters.

Make sure children know not to get in a vehicle with a stranger or person they don’t trust, and to never enter a vehicle or home for a treat. They should only approach homes that are well-illuminated and that appear to be welcoming trick-or-treaters.

Make sure all children in a group know to call 9-1-1 in case of an emergency, and that they have access to a cell phone.

When deciding on a costume, look for one that does not hinder the mobility or block the vision of the person wearing it.

Never use a dark common area or alleyway as a shortcut, and stay on sidewalks when possible.

Specify a time at which your children should return home, and make sure they carry a cell phone so that you can check in on them from time to time.

Always have children and their escorts carry flashlights or glow sticks for when they are out and about, keeping in mind that some are small enough to carry on your keychain or belt loop.

Add reflective tape to costumes or Trick-or-Treat bags to increase visibility in the dark.

Inspect all candy before allowing your children to eat it. Toss out anything that looks suspicious, is unwrapped, or appears to have been tampered with.

If someone's life or property is in imminent danger, do not hesitate to dial 9-1-1. To report suspicious activity or unsafe conditions, please call the Police Department's non-emergency number at 703-257-8000.